when any of the other major programs were passed, signed into law, they were ultimately done with both democrat and republican votes. >> narrator: it was victory, but experienced washington knew the president would pay for it. >> it came at a high price, the entire first year basically dedicated to this, having their hopes for bipartisanship dashed. >> narrator: now, he and his party would have to wait for a verdict from the electorate-- the midterm elections. >> an historic election for the republican party... >> it's a whole new political world for the president... > narrator: in november of 2010, the president's party suffered a significant defeat... >> now the republicans back in power in the house of representatives... >> narrator: for them, the midterm elections were a disaster. >> democrats are nursing a major midterm hangover. >> it was really one of the first times when the country had a chance to register their opposition to obama. >> tuesday's election was a game changer... >> and boy, did they. >> repudiation of the president and his policies... >> and that, i think, came a